CUIRASS (French, cuirasse), armour for the breast or back. It is commonly applied to a piece of defensive armour made of well-hammered iron plate, used to cover the
Cuirassiers whole body from the neck to the girdle. By some the word is derived from the Latin cor, or Italian cuore, the heart, because the cuirass defends that part; but it is more probably from the French cuir, or Latin corium, leather, because defensive armour was originally made of leather, as well as of quilted linen, twisted hemp cord, &c. The cuirass of iron plate succeeded the hauberk, haqueton, &c. of mail, about the time of Edward III. A species of cuirass was known under several forms among many ancient nations, as the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. See BREASTPLATE.